RSVP Open for Boston and San Francisco Annual Events (no charge)

sbnels — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:27:18 -0400

Every year Accelerated Cure Project for MS hosts a free event on each coast to introduce people to our organization and let our supporters know what we have been up to for the past year.

Both events feature a cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres, dessert, live music, a silent auction, and a year in review presentation by Accelerated Cure Project staff.

WEST COAST:

November 7th - The 2008 West Coast Annual Event will be held at the Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel in Palo Alto, CA. Special guest Tyler Hamilton, current US National Road Race Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, will speak about his racing career and his foundation's work to better the lives of people with MS. More details and *RSVP* here

EAST COAST:

November 22 - The 2008 East Coast Annual Event will be held at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Waltham, MA. Special guest Saud A. Sadiq, MD, Director and Senior Research Scientist of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, will speak about his work. More details and *RSVP* here

Source Of Multipotent Stem Cells With Broad Regenerative Potential identified

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:18:30 -0400

In a promising finding for the field of regenerative medicine, stem cell researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC have identified a source of adult stem cells found on the walls of blood vessels with the unlimited potential to differentiate into human tissues such as bone, cartilage and muscle.

The scientists identified cells known as pericytes that are multipotent, meaning they have broad developmental potential. Pericytes are found on the walls of small blood vessels such as capillaries and microvessels throughout the body and have the potential to be extracted and grown into many types of tissues.

art: and then this popped up - stem cells from testicles. The article says "men's testicles" so that you don't think it might be from women's testicles, but you get the idea.

More Info on the Cooling Glove

art — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:01:39 -0400

The device, called the Glove and invented by two Stanford biologists, is used by the San Francisco 49ers during games and at practice for players' health. But its applications are far broader: from treating stroke and heart attack victims to allowing soldiers to remain in the field longer under intense heat. And maybe even MS!

"We learned that you can actually reverse that muscle fatigue in a short amount of time," co-inventer Heller said. "And if you cool muscles during rest, you get a much greater recovery than if you rested without cooling."

MS trial outcome measures are insufficient

art — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:52:30 -0400

These researchers conclude that measures of unremitting disability used in trials of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis cannot be validated. Trials have been too short or degrees of disability change too small to measure the key outcomes. These analyses highlight the difficulty in determining effectiveness of therapy in chronic diseases.

Yet more fuel for the fire that says we need proper biological markers of disease progression - something we believe our repository can help establish.

Funcional Electrical Stimulation

art — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:24:58 -0400

The use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) has increased recently with devices utilized to assist people experiencing foot drop. There has been an increase in the public’s awareness of these devices and their use in people living with multiple sclerosis. This article is a good overview.

Web Guide To Wheelchair & Assistive Technology

art — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:23:47 -0400

This site has a plethora of reviews of wheelchairs, cushions, and other assistive technologies. There are other interesting compendiums of info on things like lemon-laws for wheelchairs, going from cane to wheelchair, vans, and travel info.

Vitamin D in children with MS - more data supporting a link

art — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:14:23 -0400

Hanwell's team studied 125 kids who had evidence of MS symptoms such as numbness. Twenty of the children were diagnosed with MS within the next year, Hanwell said. Blood tests showed 68 per cent of those children had vitamin D insufficiency.

On average, the children with MS had much lower levels of the vitamin than children who did not experience any other MS-like symptoms.

Apparently Steve Jobs Parks in Handicap Spots

art — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:01:47 -0400

It appears that capturing snapshots of Steve Jobs' Mercedes SL55 AMG parked in a handicapped spot at One Infinite Loop is quickly becoming one of the ultimate "must have" photos on a tour of "The Mothership".

I guess when you're that rich, the handicapped don't matter...

Merck Serono initiates Phase III Cladribine Trial

art — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:12:37 -0400

The trial, called Oracle MS, will evaluate the safety and efficacy of two dosage regimens of cladribine tablets versus placebo in the treatment of patients who have experienced a first clinical event suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). Cladribine tablets are currently also being evaluated in a fully enrolled Phase III pivotal trial - the Clarity study - for treatment of relapsing forms of MS.

Info on current MS/Cladribine trials is here.

More info on Tysabri PML cases

art — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:05:54 -0400

Past reports didn't have much information on the new PML cases, but this article has a bit more.

RSVP Open for Boston *and* San Francisco Annual Events (no charge)